Air duct mounting device



R. R. DUPLER AIR DUCT MOUNTING DEVICE March 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 6, 1953 Fmi.

2/vo. Ewan;

Utormg March 24, 1959 R, R, DUPLER 2,878,529

AIR DUCT MOUNTING DEVICE Filed July 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 itedstatCS Patent f AIR DUCT MOUNTING DEVICE Raymond R. Dupler, Toledo, Ohio Application July 6, 1953, Serial No. 366,323

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) This invention relates to building structures, but more particularly to the installation of air ducts within a building.

Heretofore, the mounting of air ducts, both the hot air and return or cold air ducts, has been confined largely to placing them in the region between the studding so far as the vertical runs are concerned. For the horizontal runs, the ducts have extendedbetween floors with necessary sharp and very ineiiicient bends. In some instances, the outlet to the roomfhas been a vertical branch to the room ceiling leading from a horizontal run between oors. This is not satisfactory and in fact, quite inefcient, since for any air to ow, the blowers must be in operation since convection currents can not be invoked in such anl arrangement.

It is therefore a desideratum to produce an efficient mounting for the air ducts, which will make effective use of convection currents, eliminate dead air spaces, make possible the arrangement of air ducts to the location desired without abrupt bends, and enable the duct system to be installed either angularly through a row studding without being required to be installed parallel to and between adjacent studding, or at the top of the studding adjacent the room ceiling, and still be disposed substantially flush with the outer face of the studding. f An object is to produce a novel and eicient Imeans by which air ducts can be extended diagonally or otherwise through the studding and still lie approximately ilush With theouter lface of the studding, or at least not to project substantially beyond the studding.

" 'Another object is to produce a novel and efficient air duct installation within a building structure so that the yductsare substantially ilush with the outer portions of the studding and either extend bodily through the stud- 'ding diagonally or otherwise, or lie in regions ordinarily occupied 4.by the studding.

Y A further Objectis to produce a combined air duct bracket 'and studdingV supporting 4device enabling the mounting of air ducts approximately ush with the studding but at right angles thereto.

- Astill-:further object is to produce a combined air duct bracket and studding intercepter device enabling the duct to pass diagonally through and still lie approximately ilush withl the studding. v

Other :objects and advantages of the invention will here. inafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a perspective elevation showing a side wall of a room, parts being broken away to show the mounting of the air duct adjacentand substantially parallel to the ceiling line; Figure 2:is,a compositer perspective view showing the duct bracket and showing how the two parts `of the bracket t together;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate form of bracket equipped with straps 4depending from the lower and;

Patented Mar. 24, 1959 Figure 4 is a perspective elevational view of row of studding showing the duct mounted diagonally, extending bodily through the studding, combined brackets and studding intercepters being mounted to support the air duct and reinforce the studding in those areas which have been cut away;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combined bracket and studding intercepter and showing how the two parts thereof fit together; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner in which combined duct bracket and studding intercepter is secured to a section of studding.

` The illustrated embodiment of the invention shown on Figures 1 and 2, comprises a horizontal floor plate 10 from which rise a series of studs 11 spaced from each other in the normal manner so that one stud is spaced equally on its adjacent studs. At the top of the studding andbelow the ceiling line, is a horizontal plate 12 which is nailed to the studs so as to provide a rigid structure. Spaced above the plate 12 a distance slightly greater than the widest dimension of the air duct, is a double plate 13 and this constitutes the ceiling line of the room. Mounted on the double plate 13 are a series of blocks supporting the second iioor indicated at 15. Manifestly, under normal conditions, the studs would extend directly to the ydouble plate 13 but in this instance, a space is left ample to receive the air duct 21 of sheet metal and rectangular -in cross section, as will be readily understood by those skilled in this art.

To support and guide the air duct and also to rigidify the studding, is a series of two-part brackets generally indicated at B. Each bracket B forms, in effect, a continuation of va stud and is fixed to the upper side of the `p1ate'12 and the under side of the ceiling plate 13.

As best shown in Figure 2, each bracket B consists of two parts and each part has a at plate-like elongate body 16 of rigid metal such as steel or aluminum, and integral with each end of the body 16 are triangular end portions 17 having a series of nail holes 18 including a diagonal hole extending through the body 16 so that a nail can be forced diagonally through into the adjacent plate and studding. Each plate-like body is also provided with a plurality of equi-distantly spaced tapped holes 19 so as to receive screws'for attaching plaster board in position. As shown, a ledge or abutment 20 is provided adjacent a side of a triangular end so that the two parts can t wtogether to form a compact rectangular sleeve-like device through which the air duct 21 extends.

In practice, the innermost part of the bracket B is first mountedl in position with the triangular ends facing outwar'dly. "This part is then nailed in place. Then the duct 21 may be installed and after that, the other section of fthe-*bracket B may be similarly mounted in place. However, both parts of the bracket may be installed before the air lduct is placed, in which event, the air duct is slidythrough the various brackets, as will be manifest. It will vthus be seen that the bracket B not only provides a way for the air duct, but also rigidiiies the studding. Manifestly, the air duct does not extend outwardly beyond 'the face of YtheA studding. This makes possible the application of the plaster board smoothly over the duct arrangement and of course, the plaster over the plaster board 'so that all that is needed are holes in the desired areas to install the heating grills 23. It will be manifest that risers can be mounted on the horizontal ducts to extend upwardly through studding in the second oor rooms, if desired.

In the form of the invention shown on Figure 3, a bracket similar to that shown in Figure 2 is illustrated, except that depending from the triangular end portions 17a at the lower end of the bracket sections are oppositely inclined straps 17b and 17c which, when the sections are assembled, are generally in overlapped relation. Each strap has a central bolt hole X on opposite sides of which are nail holes Y.

In the use of the bracket of Figure 3, the plate 12 shown in Figure 1 can be dispensed with and the straps 17b are nailed and bolted to the wide side of the stud for reenforcing and rigidifying the structure. .Thus the bracket provides an extension or prolongation of the respective stud to which it is attached and at the same time affords a way for an air duct, as will be manifest.

In the form of the invention shown on Figures 4 to 6, the studding for a room is shown, the studs 11a being mounted in the usual manner upon the horizontal tloor plate a. In this instance, it is desired that the air duct 21a extend bodily through the studding. This makes possible a diagonal run for the air duct enabling the air to ow in the normal manner by convection currents and obviating the necessity of abrupt bends or turns in the duct system. Instead of the air duct passing diagonally upward or downward, the duct could pass horizontally through the studding, as will be manifest hereinafter.. To make possible such positioning of the air duct 21a, the several studs are cut in two and a part removed a distance somewhat greater than the widest dimension of the air duct. Thus the several studs are cut or have a section removed to provide the diagonal path as indicated on Figure 4.

In order to provide a Way for the duct 21a and reinforce the studs from which a section has been removed, a combined bracket and stud intercepter indicated generally at 24, is provided for each stud. Each of these devices is in two parts, and each part has a plate-like body 25 from which project at right angles, triangular end portions 26. At one side of each triangular end portion adjacent the body 25 is a ledge or abutment 27 enabling the two parts of the device to tit together substantially as shown in Figure 4, providing a rectangular way or guide for the air duct. Rigid with each plate-like body 25 and projecting at an angle outwardly therefrom is a relatively short strap 28, the straps 28 for one part of the device being on one side, and those on the other part being on the opposite side and in overlapping arrangement, as indicated on Figure 4.

In practice, one part of the combined bracket and stud intercepter is arranged so that the triangular end portions 26 abut the adjacent ends of the stud, a portion of which has been removed, with the straps on the outside of these stud sections engaging the wider side of the stud, as shown. In each strap are nail holes 29 and between the nail holes is a bolt hole 30. The nails are driven through the nail holes in the first instance in the triangular end portions and strap after the part has been placed in position. Then after the air duct is in place,the other part of the combined bracket and stud intercepter is similarly applied, nails being driven through the nail holes, and then bolts 31 are inserted through thebolt holes and of course, through the respective section of the studding. In this manner, not only is the air duct properly guided, but the stud sections thoroughly reinforced so that a rigid structure is produced. Preferably the device 24 is somewhat longer than the wider dimension of the air duct to enable the angular positioning of the air duct with respect to the device. In order to enable the plaster board'to be applied, tapped holes 32 are formed inthe plate-like body 25. This enables screws to be inserted through the plaster board and into the body 25 so as to retain the board properly in position. i

From the above description, it will be manifest that I have produced a novel means for mounting air ducts which obviates the diculties heretofore encountered and 4 enables the air duct to extend diagonally or otherwise through the studding or above the studding and without weakening the framework fiof the building, on the contrary, strengthening it substantially since the bracket devices are of rigid metal which enhance the strength of the structure. The brackets can be readily and conveniently mounted, and when the installation is made, the duct system is substantially flush with the studding and does not interfere with the plastering so that a uniform exterior or plaster surface can be obtained.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a building structure having a row of studs, each stud being elongate rectangular in cross section, with the narrow portion outermost, a horizontal ceiling-plate, a portion of each stud being severed directly below said ceiling plate to provide a way for an air duct of oblong cross section, the improvement which comprises a rigid two-part bracket for each stud, each part having a flat panel-like body of a length substantially equivalent to the severed portion of the stud and of a width approximately equal to the narrow dimension of the studs, inwardly extending parallel rigid elements at opposite ends of said body adapted to complement the similar elements on the other part so that when the bracket parts face each other with the respective elements extending toward each other a substantially rectangular guideway is formed, each elementhaving nail holes, and nails fastening said elements to the adjacent stud and the ceiling plate respectively,

y an air duct being adapted to extend through said brackets with all portions thereof substantially ush with the exposed narrow portions of the studding.

2. In a building structure having a row of studs, each stud being elongate rectangular in cross section, with the narrow portion outermost, a portion of each stud being severed intermediate the upper Vand lower ends separating the stud into upper and lower sections to provide a way for an air duct of oblong cross section, the irnprovement which comprises a rigid two-part bracket for each stud, each part having a at panel-like body of a length substantially equivalent to the severed portion of the stud and of a width approximately equal to the narrow dimension of the studs, inwardly extending parallel rigid elements at opposite ends of said body adapted to complement the similar elements on the other part so that when the bracket parts face each other with' the respective elements extending toward each other a substantially rectangular guideway is formed, the upper elements of each bracket abutting the lower end of an upper stud section, an integral attaching strap projecting longitudinally of each bracket part to overlap an adjacent stud section, the straps on corresponding bracket elements be'- ing arranged in overlapping relation, and fasteners extending through said straps into the respective stud section, said fasteners including bolts rigidly securing opposite straps to the respective stud section, an air duct being adapted to extend through said brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson I une '15, 

